Welcome to the Fishing Report from Townsend, Tennessee in the Great Smoky Mountains. At 5:42 am, the temperature is 65 degrees.

Strong storms moved through the region overnight bringing strong winds and heavy rain. The Knoxville Airport reported .86 inches of rain overnight. Heavier rain fell in Townsend. One personal weather station near our house reported 1.13 inches, while another station near the shop reported 1.85 inches.

Today will begin cloudy with a low chance for showers. Later today we can expect sunny skies with a high temperature in the middle 70’s.

Tomorrow will be partly sunny with a low chance for thunderstorms and a high in the middle 70’s.

Little River is flowing at 334 cubic feet per second (cfs) or 2.41 feet on the gauge. Median flow for this date is 155 cfs. The river is receding. The water temperature is 63.0 degrees this morning.

Little Pigeon River at Sevierville is flowing at 285 cfs which compares to median flow for this date of 305 cfs. The river is rising quickly.

Oconaluftee River is flowing at 765 cfs at the Birdtown gauge, compared to median flow for this date of 370 cfs for this date. The river is rising and stained.

Tellico River at the Tellico Plains gauge is flowing at 133 cfs compared to median flow of 160 cfs. The river is rising.

Cataloochee Creek is flowing at 398 cfs, which compares to median flow of 77 cfs for this date. The creek is receding.

Davidson River is flowing at 75 cfs, compared to median flow of 98 cfs.

Some streams in the Smokies are flowing high while others are fishable. The streams will recede today. If you go fishing in the mountains, look for steams that are flowing low enough to safely wade. Weighted nymphs may be your best option today though you might do well with dry flies later on some rivers.

Some rivers in the low elevations where trout are stocked are flowing high and some could be temporarily stained. Others may be flowing at good fishing levels, especially later today. Nymphs and streamers will likely work best for you.

Some lowland rivers are flowing high and possibly stained. Check the flow gauges before you go fishing for smallmouth bass and other species. Streamers, nymphs and crayfish patterns are probably your best choices today. You might do well with top water flies on some of the rivers and creeks.

Fishing on the lakes may be good today but some could be stained. It will be a little breezy today. Cast to the banks and cover with weighted streamers, swimming nymphs, foam floating flies or poppers. It will be cloudy early today so that will be the best time to go fly fishing on the lakes.

There are generation schedules you can work with on many of the tailwaters today. They all vary so check the TVA website to see what options you have a plan accordingly.

We finally got some much needed rain in East Tennessee. After the free flowing rivers recede and settle down, fishing will be much better than it has been lately.

Have a great day and thank you for being here with us.

Byron Begley
June 12, 2023

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Parking Tags are now required to park your vehicle inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park for more than 15 minutes. Tags may be purchased at Visitors Centers, including the center in Townsend. Or, they may be purchased online. You can buy a daily, weekly or annual tag. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Respond to: byron@littleriveroutfitters.com